WHO fears over using mobiles

Michelle Cazzulino

Parents should closely monitor the amount of time children spend talking on mobile phones, the World Health Organisation has warned.

Although scientific evidence is yet to prove any detrimental effects resulting from long-time mobile phone usage, tests have shown higher electromagnetic waves result in places where mobiles are frequently used.

WHO director-general Gro Harlem Brundtland does not own a mobile phone and has banned staff and visitors to her Geneva office from using them. She said concerns about the associated health risks of using mobile phones were behind her decision.

Ms Brundtland said the electromagnetic waves gave her headaches, which was why she had banned the phones in her workplace. «If you enter my office, you are invited by me. No one who is invited by me would like to give me headaches,» she said.

«I would be cautious about letting children use mobile phones every day, because we don’t know about the damage.»

The mobile debate has intensified in recent months with separate reports conflicting on whether or not their use is damaging.

There is, however, still no scientific proof the use of a mobile phone is harmful.

In imposing the ban, Ms Brundtland joins a growing number of high-profile Australians, including former prime minister Paul Keating and former Opposition leader Kim Beazley and wife Susie Annus, who refuse to use mobile phones because of health concerns.

Mr Keating is also understood to have insisted that his staff use mobile phone headsets in a bid to reduce the perceived risk of radiation.

Some world leaders, including the Queen and US President George W. Bush, have also barred staff from using them.

According to overseas reports, Mr Bush will not allow phones to be switched on during meetings, while the constant ringing prompted the Queen to issue a warning to all staff last year that mobiles were not to be used while they are on duty.

Last month, the Chinese army declared mobile phones and pagers security risks and barred soldiers from using them.

Elsewhere, singer Paul McCartney and wife Heather Mills, who were married last month, also warned guests not to bring mobile phones to their wedding service.

Extract from From The Daily Telegraph (Sydney), July 4, 2002, Thursday.